What is Safe to Use as a Marlin Spike?

**gargoyle** · 03-03-2010, 10:22

The easiest thing I've found is a simple, small carabiner. They are solid aluminum, weight is minimal, and they can be found at almost every store. They don't need to be huge or "climber rated".
You can find them for a $1.00 or so, if you already don't own a few. And it gives you an optional place to hang some gear, just click your shoes or stuff sacks into the gate.
Any piece of pipe, tubing, a stick (about the thickness of your finger), a dowel, or arrow shaft will do.
Just make sure the whoopie is hanging on the strap, not the toggle itself.
I weigh 330 lbs., so they have pased the stress test.

**Shug** · 03-03-2010, 10:41

I still like my slurpee straw toggles. I can play pipes of pan on them and do bird calls on them. Use them as a weird rescue whistle. Stick them in my nostrils to amuse myself and to breathe better. They are fun to look at. I like worrying that I may lose them. Keeps me vigilant. They pimp my suspension and I feel stylish and suave. I can blow through them to excite a fire. They work as earrings.
Shug

**Hawk-eye** · 03-03-2010, 10:45

Originally Posted by Shug

I still like my slurpee straw toggles. I can play pipes of pan on them and do bird calls on them. Use them as a weird rescue whistle. Stick them in my nostrils to amuse myself and to breathe better. They are fun to look at. I like worrying that I may lose them. Keeps me vigilant. They pimp my suspension and I feel stylish and suave. I can blow through them to excite a fire. They work as earrings.
Shug

easy on the cold medications my friend

**Thunder** · 03-03-2010, 10:46

I went to goodwill and scored about 15 knitting needles of various sizes. I just cut one of them up and use it as toggles. They were cheap and are pretty cool looking also. Mine are mint green! They are basically just hollow aluminum tubes.

**gargoyle** · 03-03-2010, 12:02

Originally Posted by Shug

They are fun to look at.
Shug

You're fun to look at..

**canoebie** · 03-03-2010, 12:38

Originally Posted by gargoyle

The easiest thing I've found is a simple, small carabiner. They are solid aluminum, weight is minimal, and they can be found at almost every store. They don't need to be huge or "climber rated".
You can find them for a $1.00 or so, if you already don't own a few. And it gives you an optional place to hang some gear, just click your shoes or stuff sacks into the gate.
Any piece of pipe, tubing, a stick (about the thickness of your finger), a dowel, or arrow shaft will do.
Just make sure the whoopie is hanging on the strap, not the toggle itself.
I weigh 330 lbs., so they have pased the stress test.

Great idea, I am gonna do that. Plagurism is the ultimate flattery.

**vitamaltz** · 03-03-2010, 12:42

Originally Posted by Thunder

If I were to have a couple of guidelines for toggles I would not choose any thing smaller in diameter than my thumb and choose only dry, not green, not rotting sticks. If you go by that and hook your whoopie sling on the "knot, not the toggle" as Shug says you should be fine.

This is great advice and pretty similar to my practice. I too have had trouble finding trail sticks this winter since we've been blanketed in snow since December. I've used extra stakes but as soon as the snow melts I'll be back to sticks. I usually snap my sticks to the appropriate size, and if they snap too easily or bend, I'm not going to use them.

BTW, I've always really wanted to check out Houghton. It looks beautiful and property seems to be selling for next to nothing.

**lazy river road** · 03-03-2010, 13:37

Hum this makes me want to widdle some marlin spikes out of wood

...great imput

**Shug** · 03-03-2010, 15:24

Originally Posted by lazy river road

Hum this makes me want to widdle some marlin spikes out of wood

...great imput

Actually the marlin spike is the knot .... the toggle, stick, stoub, biner, arrow-shaft, old tent pole, tent pole repair piece, knit needle et al holds the knot together.
Grizz uses some nice custom ones. Paul at Arrowhead sells 'em too.
If you whittle some post a picture. I got a toggle thing!!!!
Know-It-All Shug

**Thunder** · 03-03-2010, 15:44

"I've always really wanted to check out Houghton. It looks beautiful and property seems to be selling for next to nothing."

Yeah its a great place to get away...there is not much around for indoor activities though. It is very scenic at all times of the year and there is a TON of historic spots up here, which is pretty cool. The whole Keweenaw peninsula is interesting.

If I had the money I would also buy some property up here on lake superior for a summer cottage, or even in town. You can get some old mining homes for less than $40,000, but they need some work.